The 'S' in ESG, representing Social, is a crucial yet often challenging component to define and measure within Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Social impact focuses on the inclusion and capacity building of communities. This presents an opportunity for companies to foster socioeconomic participation and build relationships with these communities, government and institutions. What social impact looks like though, and the regulatory requirements for this, are different in every country, presenting challenges unique to every country. In this episode of acQuire Connected, we’re joined by Loyiso Ndlovu, Head of Sustainability and ESG at Sibanye Stillwater, and Maritha Erasmus, Social Intelligence Value Stream Leader at acQuire to explore: • how companies are defining and measuring the ‘S’ in ESG • what key challenges all companies face when reporting on their social impact, and • where they see the future state of social impact reporting heading.

The way company’s report on their environmental compliance is being watched and scrutinised more than ever before. It’s no longer enough to publicly declare the efforts of a company without sufficient evidence; stakeholders and investors working in the natural resources sector want to see data-backed reporting of a company’s environmental performance and initiatives. The two waves of innovation driving how companies use their environmental data are: • changes to regulatory standards around how companies report their data • advances in technology that shape how we capture, report and analyse environmental data. This week’s podcast guests, Stuart van de Water, Environmental Leader at acQuire, and Che DeDear, EnviroSys Commercial Manager, sit down with us to explore the emerging regulatory changes and technological trends shaping how companies report on their environmental data.

Modern mining operations generate massive volumes of data throughout exploration, production, and resource management. This has given rise to many complex data management challenges including how the mining industry handles data volume and variety, data quality and integrity, accessibility to data, and many more. On this week’s episode of acQuire Connected, we’re joined by Niti Gupta, a geoscientist with more than a decade of experience in delivering comprehensive geological and environmental solutions, to unpack how integral data management is to the mining industry. Throughout the episode, we explore the challenges that mining companies face across data management and analysis, what effective data management can mean for sustainability efforts and regulatory reporting, common misconceptions around database management, and the future trends in data management practices.

In today's world of environmental reporting, there's a noticeable shift in how companies approach the way they manage their environmental impact. Rather than merely paying lip service, companies are now expected to take tangible actions and make a genuine impact on stakeholders and the environment around them. To make this transition, companies are turning to their environmental data as a crucial resource. While the concept of capturing environmental data isn’t novel, the use of data for analysis and its role in forecasting and decision-making has gained significant importance. In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Stuart van de Water, Environmental Leader at acQuire, and Michael Wowkodaw, Technology Adviser at acQuire, to delve into the realm of environmental data management including: - how and why companies are collecting environmental data, - types of environmental data that companies commonly collect but may not report on, and - what companies can do to get on top of their information management today to get the most out of their existing data.

With data being hailed as the "new gold," companies in the mining industry are swiftly adapting their data management practices, leveraging it not only for operational efficiency but also to meet increasing regulatory and compliance demands. This week’s guest, Steve Mundell, Director of Product at acQuire, delves into the evolving landscape of data management in the mining industry. In this episode, Steve sheds light on the complexities of navigating the "alphabet soup of regulations", the imperative for robust data management practices, how companies navigate cyber security in an era of data-driven mining operations and explore the future of data management.